State of the State Address

Governor Cuomo delivers his State of the State address on Wednesday. The speech kicks off a challenging year of budget deficits and re- election races.

Cuomo begins his eighth year in office facing the largest budget deficit since 2011. New York is short $4.4 billion, and there’s uncertainty over federal policies, including the overhaul of the tax code, that could leave the state with even a bigger budget hole in the future.

Onondaga County leaders will be listening closely to Governor Cuomo’s state of the state address Wednesday to find out how he might address the state’s budget deficit. Priorities laid out in the speech are a strong indicator of the spending plan to be presented to state lawmakers. The state is at least $4 billion in the red, and county legislature chairman Ryan McMahon says the state will have to tighten its belt, hopefully without burdening residents.

Governor Cuomo’s doing something different with the State of the State this year. Instead of delivering a speech to lawmakers in Albany, who will have to approve his proposals, he’s giving six mini speeches in three days all around the state. One of them will be given at the Civic Center in Syracuse Wednesday. Legislative leaders will not be attending.

A budget watch dog group is giving Governor Cuomo a mixed grade on his budget proposals, saying he’s done a good job reigning in spending, but is making a mistake by shifting some significant costs to New York City.

Governor Cuomo released his State of the State message and $143 billion budget spending plan, including $1 billion more for schools next year , and ethics reforms.

Cuomo saved his plans for education and ethics reform for his speech, after already rolling out a massive infrastructure project that he says will make the late Governor Nelson Rockefeller “jealous”, calling for a statewide $15 minimum wage, and numerous other proposals.

Syracuse was one of 20 locations statewide Friday where members of Governor Cuomo’s cabinet delivered the his state of the state message and budget agenda. Commissioner of the state’s department of civil service Jerry Boone made his presentation at the SUNY Educational Opportunity Center. He echoed much of Cuomo’s message on education reform, including some staggering numbers about failing schools. He says average statewide graduation rate is just over 76%; but it’s only around 47% in failing schools…

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Commissioner Boone highlights why some schools are failing, and SUNY EOC Director Tim Penix explains their role in filling the gaps.

SUNY EOC Director Penix applauds the governor’s efforts to improve graduation rates. Still, he says they’re ready to serve as a pipeline for graduates and drop-outs who need workforce or college readiness.

Commissioner Boone says the governor takes pride in sharp rise in the hiring of minority and women owned businesses over the past few years…from 10 percent in 2010 to 25 percent in 2014…

Governor Cuomo delivered his joint State of the State and budget message, proposing a $141.6 billion spending plan that in part sets up a show down with teachers and education advocates. The governor wants 100 more charter schools and an overhaul of teacher evaluations, which he says are “baloney”, because virtually all teachers are rated as adequate.“98% of the teachers rated effective,” Cuomo said. “Who are we kidding, my friends?”

Governor Cuomo gives a joint State of the State speech and budget address on Wednesday. The speech was delayed due to the death of Cuomo’s father, former governor Mario Cuomo earlier this month.

Because of the late date, Governor Cuomo has decided to include his budget proposals in his State of the State presentation, to give lawmakers ample time to respond and craft a spending plan before the March 31 deadline.

A Syracuse Doctor initially skeptical of Governor Cuomo's medical marijuana plan is now embracing what appears to be a closely monitored, research-based model.

Doctor Jeffrey Sneider is an internist at Brighton Medical Associates, and represents a 10 county region for the Medical Society of New York. Sneider says he's still learning the details, but so far likes the limited scope of the program.